During the arduous hunt for Fellows of Windsward music sheets over the last week, I’ve had a lot of time to think about the music system in this game. It adds so much charm to the world, and is probably what I’ve most enjoyed about the game so far. Between scouring the world hunting down the sheets themselves, to random pickup bands in town, and even just sitting around playing for tips and providing buffs while grinding aptitude, it’s such a fun mode for me. I’d love to see it built even further into something truly unique in the MMO genre.
I went and played three different concerts today around Aeternum at the fountain areas in Brimstone Sands, Everfall, and Windsward, random songs on guitar mostly. How fun would it be to have a Concert or Set List mechanic that rewarded our bards for playing well over a series of similarly-themed songs? Consider a series of objectives bards could attempt solo or pick up as a group to earn coin, materials, or other rewards (song pages, fashion items once New World’s glamour/transmog system comes out, or even BARD-SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT). The system could follow a similar design for how Town Board quests work, and might give taverns a bit more significance if those are the quest ‘hubs.’
The idea that first came to mind was a Concert or Set List mechanic, a series of songs based around a theme or featuring a certain instrument that if played well would earn additional rewards or provide some kind of enhanced buff effect for the audience or settlement. Some simple music combos might be Fellows of Windsward and Windsward Inn, or Fisherman’s Lament and That Damn Fish, but I’m sure there are so many more groupings that could be made and themes that could be found.
I’d love to hear ideas for expanding the system or what Concerts, Set Lists, or other mechanics bards and their listeners would like to see around Aeternam!